It’s clear that the nation is sleeping on Clemson football. Both Travis Etienne and Isaiah Simmons are being overlooked for individual honors.
The Clemson football team is 11-0 and on pace to get back to the CFB Playoff for a fifth-straight season. Despite the fact that the Tigers are playing at a high level, the entire nation seems to be sleeping on just how good this team has been.
The Doak Walker Award is reportedly given to the top running back in the nation in College Football each year, but that won’t be the case this season.
The award announced its three finalists for 2019 and it didn’t include Clemson football RB Travis Etienne. Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor were selected despite the fact that none of the three are putting up numbers in the way Etienne has during this season.
Here’s a look at the pure stat-lines:
J.K. Dobbins: 219 carries for 1,446 yards, (6.6 YPC), 15 TDs.
Chuba Hubbard: 285 carries for 1,832 yards, (6.4 YPC), 20 TDs.
Jonathan Taylor: 261 carries for 1,685 yards, (6.5 YPC), 18 TDs.
All three of these guys have put up impressive numbers, but let’s take a look at Travis Etienne’s stat line. Etienne has 153 carries for 1,335 yards and 14 touchdowns. That’s an average of 8.7 yards per carry.
Despite the fact that Etienne is averaging more than 2 yards per carry more than the three finalists and the fact that he nearly has the same amount of yardage in nearly 100 less carries, he was left off the list.
Not only is Travis Etienne being overlooked, but Clemson football LB Isaiah Simmons hasn’t gotten the respect he deserves either.
Though Simmons is considered a finalist for the Bednarik Award– presented annually to the best defensive player nationally- he has consistently taken a backseat to Ohio State DE Chase Young. Young is having a great season, but there are analysts talking about how he should be a Heisman Candidate and they’re completely turning a blind eye to Isaiah Simmons.
Simmons is the most versatile defensive player in the nation. He is able to rush the quarterback, stop the run and drop back in coverage. He is the most important player to a Tiger defensive unit that is ranked No. 2 in the nation in total defense.
Simmons has been absolutely incredible, but doesn’t get near the hype he deserves.
In the end, both Travis Etienne and Isaiah Simmons are continually being overlooked, not just for many individual honors, but for the “ultimate” individual honor: The Heisman Trophy.
It’s not going to matter because we’re going to see a quarterback win the award, but it’s absolutely ridiculous that we are seeing analysts talk about Chub Hubbard and Chase Young as Heisman contenders without recognizing that there are two Clemson football players who are equally as great– if not better- and they’re not getting any kind of hype or love from the national media.